Part 10 (2/2)

The next week was the most hectic, unsettling one of Tess's life. It was as if her world had been turned upside down.

Stella was in her zenith. Everyone in their social circle vied for invitations to the wedding. Consequently, Stella wanted only the best for the celebration and was willing to pay lavish amounts for it.

Neil behaved as if he had no money worries. When Tess confided her very firm feelings that he should talk to Stella about scaling back the guest list to the wedding breakfast, he'd laughed. He'd said that nothing was too good for his little sister.

”But what of money, Neil?” she'd pleaded.

”Tess, my fortune's intact. Stella and I are paying for this.” He then gave her his back as he helped himself to a freshly opened bottle of port.

”Then why don't you reimburse me for the money you lost?”

Neil over-poured his gla.s.s. He wiped up the spilled wine before saying, ”I can't do that, Tess. You know I can't.”

”I don't understand why you don't. It's the only honorable thing to do.” She crossed her arms. ”I overheard you talking to him about the marriage settlements. I think we should either tell him the truth or you should share some of the money Father settled on you.”

”Tess, that is such a radical idea. And it won't fly. It won't fly at all. Why, Christopher would never authorize such an expense. He is always going on about how extravagant Stella and I are.” Neil gulped down his wine.

”Talk to him, Neil. Explain.”

Her brother set the gla.s.s down with force. ”I can't! Don't you understand? If Christopher finds out, I'l never gain control over my own fortune. Father's will was deucedly unfair. I can't live this way. Not much longer!” He stormed out of the room before Tess could say more.

That afternoon, Brenn brought over pen and ink drawings he'd done of Erwynn Keep. He had talent as

an artist.

Tess studied the pictures of the stately brick mansion sitting on a crag of land that jutted out over a lake.

Rosebushes and ivy covered its walls. Mountains framed the background.

She pointed to them. ”Is this where the wizards kicked their feet?”

Brenn smiled at her reference to his story. ”One of them. This is where the herb garden will be.” He pointed to a location in back of the house. ”Off the kitchen.”

She nodded, not really interested in herbs at this moment. Since the Ottley musicale, Brenn had been

cordial, but distant. She was tempted to ask him if anything was wrong but feared the answer.

She studied the drawings. ”It looks peaceful.”

”It is,” he a.s.sured her. ”The mountains keep the world at bay. No war, no hunger, no b.l.o.o.d.y death...”

He murmured the last words, as if speaking to himself.

”I thought soldiers lived for war,” she said.

”Only those who have never seen it.” He spoke without thought because the moment the words had left

his lips, he acted as if he wished he could call them back. ”Not n.o.ble of me, I know, but I've had my fill,”

he explained curtly and started to roll up the drawings, handling them as if they were the most precious objects on earth.

Tess stopped him. ”Wait. Tell me about the weathervane.” She pointed to the cupola on the roof of the

house and its fanciful dragon weathervane. ”I've never seen one quite like it before.””No, and you won't. I designed it.” A frown appeared on his forehead. He cleared his throat. ”I, uh, hada fit of whimsy. It isn't crafted yet and I may not use it.”

She looked at the coiling body of the dragon. The fire coming from his mouth pointed in the direction of the wind. ”I like it.”

”You do?”

She nodded. ”I enjoy whimsy.”

For the first time in days, he smiled at her. His grin was slightly lopsided. She liked it.

”Well, I'll have Cedric Pughe fas.h.i.+on it then.” He began re-rolling the drawings.

”Who is Cedric Pughe?”

”The blacksmith. There's a village within a mile of the house. About twenty families live there. Their livelihood depends upon the earl of Merton.”

Tess sensed that something was bothering him, but she didn't feel comfortable prying. ”I'll be able to hirehelp then for the house, although I'm sure you already have some servants on retainer.””Retainer?” He said the word as if he'd never heard of such a concept.”Yes. Certainly you have servants who have been with the family?”

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